AMRITSAR: Finally after waiting tiring for more than forty days because of coronavirus kuncitara, a group of 193 stranded Pakistani citizens including visitors and pilgrims were set to cross the international border on their way to their homes at Pakistan on the 5th May. Some of them had previously made futile attempts to cross the border but had to return disappointed from the Attari land border because India and Pakistan had sealed their international borders in an effort to curb the spread of the virus. However, Dammu Ravi, an additional secretary, the foreign affairs ministry, in a notice informed that Pakistan’s high commission had requested assistance to facilitate the movement of their citizens from various parts of the country to Pakistan through the Attari crossing on May 5. When speaking with TOI from Ahemdabad, a Pakistani citizen Sher Bano said because he was locked up he had no place to go except to live in the small house of a known person whom he had to leave because the place was too narrow for his children but then he also had lost his wallet and have no money. “At this time the Indian government and Pakistan’s high commission are reaching out to help and arrange accommodation for me and my children,” he said. Pakistani citizens including Hindus living in various regions in India including Ahmedabad, Raipur, Ferozpur, Mumbai, Gurugram etc. were taken to the Attari international border from where they will be returned to their country on 5 May. The visas of the majority of Pakistani citizens have expired but were extended due to unprecedented conditions. Another Pakistani pilgrim Alifiya Murtaza, a resident of Karachi, told me that he had previously arrived at Attari on March 19 but was not allowed to cross the border. “We have no choice but to return to Mumbai and since then we have stayed here getting help from the Indian government and Pakistan’s high commission,” he said. Previously 48 Pakistan citizens were given special permission to cross the border when locked.